Sadie is suddenly paralyzed

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You know, I watched these videos last week and I guess I forgot to respond. :o

Its GREAT to see Sadie playing again! She must really be feeling much better to rough play with Ginny. Seeing a happy, healthy Sadie really brings a smile to my face.
 
This was so very awesome to hear the news of Sadie & Ginnie playing again.I loved the videos.you have done an amazing job in Sadies recovery.Your such a good mom.

Hugs to everyone~
 
Thanks everyone!

Sadie and Ginny are playing all the time now, it seems like they never take a break.

Sadie is all smiles again, all the time. Its so nice to see her back to her old self.

I've FINALLY got her off of the prednisone for good.

In the last couple of weeks I've taken up jogging with a friend and guess who's been jogging with me!

Sadie has been doing great for the most part and has no trouble keeping up. Since I'm not athletic and VERY out of shape we go out for 30 minutes and run and walk in intervals, gradually uping the time we run and decreasing walk time.

I do have trouble motivating her, she doesn't seem to think its much fun the majority of the time, which is COMPLETELY my fault.

When we were doing agility a while back she had this habit of jumping on me and biting at my arm when we ran together. To try and break her of this habit when we ran on leash and this happened, I'd stop and tell her 'NO.' Now she won't run on leash at all.

I've been giving her lots of praise when she runs or speeds up but that doesn't seem to be enough. She loves chasing a flash light so we've been running at night with my friend in front of me with the flashlight on whenever its time to run. Sadie takes off like a shot EVERY time. :lol:

Not sure if this is the right way to do this and I'd REALLY like to stop with the flashlight eventually.

We're starting obedience next week so I'm going to talk to the trainer about it then, see what she thinks.

Ginny mean while is an awesome little jogging partner who loves every minute of it. :smile2:
 
Melissa thanks for updating us on Sadie. I am so glad that she is doing so well. Can't tell you what to do about the leash but good to hear she is jogging with you and that they are playing again.
 
I took Sadie to obedience on Monday, her first class since becoming paralyzed. She did very well and her attention was excellent. Our trainer said she's done very well and that she believes Sadie can still compete in rally. That's better than nothing.

The trainer was able to make some training suggestions more tailored to Sadie's needs and I've got to be more on top of the strengthening exercises that were given to us to try.

I'm so proud of how she's over come her disability, but can't help but feel a little sad too. Why did this have to happen to her? She used to have such gorgeous movement and I feel sad when I see that she cannot sit for too long without her back legs flopping out to the sides.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade her in for the world and so grateful for the progress she's made, I think I just feel like she's been ripped off.

What happened to her shouldn't have happened, nor should it happen to any dog. I guess life just isn't fair some times.
 
OntarioSheltie said:
I'm so proud of how she's over come her disability, but can't help but feel a little sad too. Why did this have to happen to her? She used to have such gorgeous movement and I feel sad when I see that she cannot sit for too long without her back legs flopping out to the sides.
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Question: Is this muscle tone which she has lost or is there permanent nerve damage.... I'm hoping for you that she can still make progress with exercises.

I also want to encourage you to look at the other side of things. While this has been a terrifying experience and one out of your control, you've done a tremendous job in bringing her back AND have learned a lot regarding how to keep Sadie in shape. Pat yourself on the back, keep up your good work, and look at the bright side of things.
 
Katherine said:
Question: Is this muscle tone which she has lost or is there permanent nerve damage.... I'm hoping for you that she can still make progress with exercises.

I also want to encourage you to look at the other side of things. While this has been a terrifying experience and one out of your control, you've done a tremendous job in bringing her back AND have learned a lot regarding how to keep Sadie in shape. Pat yourself on the back, keep up your good work, and look at the bright side of things.
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I think she's finally reached that point where improvement stops. She could improve more, but I don't think she will this time. I believe this is permanent nerve damage.

With a spinal stroke (or brain stroke), the part of the spinal cord (or brain) that is deprived of blood dies and the body basically has to reroute the nerve signals. This is why afterwards there is often improvement but its hard to tell how much there will be.

I've been SO lucky with Sadie and she's back to about 90-95% of where she was before her paralysis, but I think she's improved as much as she's going to at this point.

I've been doing various exercises to help her relearn how to pick up her feet, took her swimming for two months and have started taking her jogging, but haven't seen any more improvement in weeks.

I am EXTREMELY proud of how well she's done, I guess I'm just having a moment of feeling like the world is against her and I. I guess I shouldn't feel sorry for her, she certainly doesn't feel sorry for herself anymore.
 
Right now Sadie isn't doing as well as I would like. I'd stopped doing her rehab exercises with her and was instead focusing more on obedience and exercise. I thought that since she's stopped progressing that exercise and training would take the place of swimming and the home exercises I was given, but I guess was wrong.

Sadie has been holding her tail oddly, presumably to help balance herself. Some days she also carries her back end lower. My trainer suggested that I take her back to the rehab vet for an adjustment or some therapy. I'm thinking Sadie could probably benefit from some therapy and I'm going to start the exercises again.

She's other wise in good spirits, is happy and healthy. Its so great to have my happy girl back, I missed her those two months when she was so unhappy and unsure.
 
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